Calcutta High Court Orders Report on Prevention of Attacks on Opposition Leaders; Directs FIRs for Egg Pelting

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the West Bengal government to submit a comprehensive report on measures taken to prevent alleged attacks on political leaders and workers. The court also instructed police to register First Information Reports (FIRs) in all cases of eggs being hurled at Opposition leaders.

Hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning assaults on Trinamool Congress (TMC) MPs, MLAs, councillors, and workers after the Assembly elections, a bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Tapabrata Chakraborty and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen issued the directives.

The court directed the state government to file an affidavit by July 20 detailing the steps taken and the number of FIRs registered specifically for egg pelting incidents.

Senior advocate Kalyan Banerjee, appearing for the petitioner, pressed for interim orders, arguing that attacks on political workers had become a "recurring phenomenon." He submitted, "People are endangered every day… One cannot come out of the airport."

Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumdar, representing the state, countered, "The state does not support these at all. Where complaints are reported to the police, the police are taking action. An FIR will be filed and an investigation will be conducted. Action is being taken against the accused. Two weeks should be given."

Banerjee further alleged police complicity, stating, "The police are abetting. They are encouraging mob lynching. A state minister is asking to throw eggs. Bulldozers are being driven in the presence of MLAs. We will prove it with videos and pictures. People are being paraded around in shorts and with a rope around their waist. Is there rule of law in the state? Immediate interim orders should be passed."

Majumdar replied, "Until a complaint is filed, it is not possible for the police to take any action… the angry crowd is doing all this."

After hearing both sides, Acting Chief Justice Chakraborty observed, "We will give directions to the state. But it is not possible to give interim directions at this time." The bench added, "If the Police Commissioner does not issue any guidelines, these incidents will continue. We will instruct the Police Commissioner to issue guidelines for all police stations so that the police take action accordingly. It is not just a matter of taking action, but also of making the common people aware. Everyone’s human rights must be ensured."

Since the TMC’s defeat in the Assembly elections on May 4, incidents of eggs being hurled at party leaders have been reported across the state, including at TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

Earlier this month, advocate Danis Farooq filed the PIL, alleging attacks on Opposition leaders and vandalism of party offices after the election results, which he argued undermines the democratic environment.